How i quit smoking.

Today is the 12th day since i last smoked a cigarette. I use to smoke about 20 to 25 cigarettes a day, for almost 13 years.

12 days ago, i just decided to quit. No particular reason really, i just did not want to smoke anymore. Of course there are alot of advantages to
this, however that was not my motivation. I just wanted to quit, and set my mind to it.

I did it cold turkey, i did not use any nicotine gum, or patches, or an e cigarette to help me. I figured, i wanted to purge my body of nicotine, and
not continue giving it nicotine, even though it is in a different shape.

Furthermore, i carried an open packet of cigarettes with me all the time, even now, as i type this, i have it with me, with cigarettes in it. I use it
to test my self control, because imho, this is what it is all about, to fight your natural urge to give in to the craving.

Your mind, or body, especially in the first couple of days will try to make you do things, to justify "having just one", or "let me have this one
more, then i will quit", and those type of thoughts are the thoughts that you will fight.

Day 1 was the hardest by far, i swear, i could think about nothing else that first day, except smoking, it was like i was in a daze, my brain felt
covered in a layer of film, it felt numb, and i was obsessed with smoking. Yet, i fought the urge, and pushed through.

Day 2, it got easier, but hardly easy. I started chewing some cinnamon gum, which seems to have helped alot.

One of the other hardest parts is to get rid of the habit, for example, after dinner, i smoked, with coffee, i smoked, when i get in the car to drive,
i light one etc etc. This pattern is what needs to be broken, and that takes willpower.

Now, i will never be one of those judgemental ex smokers, that tell smokers how bad it is, or that they should quit, etc, because i know how nice it
is to smoke. I made this post, merely as maybe a little bit of inspiration for people trying to quit, just wanting to let them know, it is possible,
but it is not easy.

Do it cold turkey, make your resolve, stick to it, and control yourself. It is very possible.

Every now and again i still get a little craving, but nothing compared to the first couple of days, and easily controllable.

congrats!!!!! it does take a heck of a lot of will to quit. I'm not a smoker myself, instead i enjoy chewing tobacco. and i imagine its on the same
level of difficulty to quit. I made a on july 1st to quit by august 1st. I had stopped completely for about 2 and a half weeks and then like you said
i just kept making up reasons to have one. a good example is "oh its only the 29th i dont have to quit for 3 more days"

It sucks so if you have any tips or tricks to kick the habit that would awesome! congrats again

You are an inspiration to others. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. I hope others can quite just as you did, i once was a smoker too
and like you one day i woke up and said im quitting. I told myself in my mind i don't need that poison, and that i can do other things to control my
stress and that micro break when you are working on something,and that its not going to control me any more. Once you quite smoking your body will
start to cleanse its self. You will start feeling better, your stress will go down alot, you will feel better about yourself, breath better and smell
better.

I have to applaud you on your effort. I've been smoking between 10 and 25 cigs a day for the past 36 years and about to quit. Spring time is near
and with plenty to keep me busy and very active I decided to take the plunge in about 4 weeks as the weather gets warmer.

I have to applaud you on your effort. I've been smoking between 10 and 25 cigs a day for the past 36 years and about to quit. Spring time is near
and with plenty to keep me busy and very active I decided to take the plunge in about 4 weeks as the weather gets warmer.

I hope you pull it through mate. Just don't fall into that trap, about setting yourself a date, that you are quitting on, and then as it gets closer,
moving it "just 1 day", for then you have lost before you started.

Just when you are ready, finish your packet, and just forget about it. Don't dwell on it, don't let it control you.

Congrats on making it this far. ive smoked for 10 years and quit several times lol. i made it 3 months then gave into stress. and lately ive tried to
quit but its just so hard on my mental and physical state. the first 3 days are horrible. my chest starts tightening and hurting..i remember one day
it hurt so bad i was in tears. i smoke cowboy killers..marlboro reds. i know people say there isnt a difference with cigarettes that they are all the
same but thats BS. i used to smoke lights and never was physically sick like i am now. constantly hacking up crap, headaches constantly, lungs
literally hurting when i laugh or when im inhailing the smoke. for these reasons i want to quit..i feel like itll probably kill me sooner then later.
cold turkey wont be what kicks it for me. think i want to try the patch. anyone tried it and succeeded?

Well done, I tried a few years back, and lasted about a week.
I went the through same symptoms,I couldn't stop thinking about fags (cigarettes).
No matter what I did I couldn't stop thinking about them.
In the end I had an argument with my wife (I got really grumpy) and used that as an excuse to start smoking again.

That is exactly what happened to me as well and yes I will have another go soon.
My mate did it the same way as OP. Too good!
One problem that I have is that I get my sense of smell back and I don't like it -- I could not believe how bad cars and peoples breaths and stale
motel room and public toilets etc etc etc actually all smell. Almost wanted to go back to my ignorant non smelling bliss...

As I read your post I'm lighting one up,I like you enjoy smoking with driving,coffee,a drink or doing just about anything.I find it's that
pattern that's so hard to break.

A few friends of mine went to see a hypnotherapist,20+year smokers,and haven't picked one up since(4 months),so I think that's the route I'm going
try.Hopefully it will work for me and as much as I enjoy it,it is time to give it up...good luck to you and stay strong,...you are doing the right
thing

Damn it - I have the rattle.
The mucus has lots of black bits in it? Are these bits of lung or tar?

Probably both

I might switch to camels, most doctors smoke them, don't you know

I can't believe they use too get away this, back in the day

edit on 29-7-2011 by DBCooper71 because: (no reason given)

ha ha,unfortunately I remember these ads everybody that was anybody smoked back then and no one gave it a thought,actually it more strange if
you didn't smoke.I remember when you could smoke in the hospitals,and I did when I had my first child back in 1984,I would walk down to the nurses
lounge to smoke with them,can you imagine?I believe it was not long after that that cigs were banned from hospitals.

Well done, and congratulations, and stick with it.
I stopped for 4 years doing exactly the same as you...pure will power.
I used to stand next to smokers to smell the smoke, and that actually gave me the kick I needed rather than inhaling.

I then went on holiday for a week with four women.....and started again...that was 10 years ago !!!
Thats how bad women are for you...lmao

one of my best friends was a serious smoker. we came up with a plan for him to quit.

we calculated the total cost of his smoking per week and then he went and took a 4 year loan with that value in repayments and bought an amazing new
triumph motorbike. whenever he feels like a smoke he looks at it or goes for a ride. it will take him 4 years to pay it back but he hasn't gone
anywhere near smokes since he picked it up. It has been 2 years now without a single smoke.

good inspiration to have something you can hold and say "its this or a smoke"

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